Graduate Student Support Plan: Students

Graduate Student Support Plan Student Handbook - Participant students should read this handbook in order to become more familiar with the NCSU Graduate Student Support Plan. There are many eligibility guidelines of which participants need to be aware so that they may maintain their Graduate Student Support Plan benefits for the duration of an eligible semester. Tuition and health insurance financial responsibility transfers to the graduate student, if Graduate Student Support Plan eligibility is not maintained.

Important Dates / Deadlines - Deadlines important for Graduate Student Support Plan participants. To subscribe to the Academic Calendar for Graduate Students and add it to your Google Calandar, please visit the link below.

Student Blue (BCBS of NC) is the health insurance provider for the NCSU Graduate Student Support Plan. Please contact them directly at 1-800-579-8022 regarding your health insurance benefits, dependent enrollment, and any other questions related to your health insurance policy. Please keep in mind that the Graduate School simply manages overall Graduate Student Support Plan eligibility and payment for the overall plan. The Graduate School is not involved, at all, after a student is no longer covered under the Graduate Student Support Plan.

Health insurance coverage on the NCSU RA-TA plan typically starts on the following dates each semester. Please speak with your department Graduate Services Coordinator if you have questions about your health insurance start (or end) date.
Fall: August 16th
Spring: January 16th

We encourage students to register for Blue Connect once they have received their health insurance information from Student Blue (Subscriber & Group numbers). Student Blue Member Services allows participants to manage their policy online, including reviewing claims and printing a temporary card.

*If you need to retrieve your policy information (subscriber, group, pharmacy bin numbers) because you did not receive your health insurance cards or they were lost or stolen, please contact Student Blue customer service at 1-800-579-8022. The Graduate School does not keep record of individual subscriber numbers.

***Please be aware that eligibility for the NCSU RA-TA plan (GSSP eligibility) is continually assessed. If a student fails to meet any one of the below GSSP eligibility requirements, they will be terminated from coverage at the end of the closest billing cycle (runs 16th of one month to the 15th of the next). Please speak with your department Graduate Services Coordinator if you have questions about your GSSP eligibility or health insurance coverage.

(1) Full-time enrollment, at all times
(2) Active, qualifying graduate appointment
(3) Active in an on-campus master's or doctoral program

If you wish to decline (waive) coverage on the NCSU RA-TA health insurance plan, please complete the form linked below. If the form is not working properly, please email your request to ncstate-gssp@ncsu.edu. Please remember include your name, student ID number, effective date of requested action, and briefly document the reason for declining coverage.

**Please be aware that there is another Student Blue (BCBS of NC) administered plan on campus, the University Mandatory Plan (Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)). This health insurance plan option is for students ineligible for the Graduate Student Support Plan, but meet the eligibility requirements outlined on the Student Health Center website. Nonetheless, it is a plan similar in health insurance coverage to the NCSU RA-TA plan (Graduate Student Support Plan), but the student is responsible for payment and enrollment into this plan.

Withdrawing a Previous Waive/Decline Request for NCSU RA-TA Coverage

If you wish to withdraw a previously submitted/requested decline for NCSU RA-TA coverage (in other words, to be eligible for coverage again), please complete the form linked below. If the form is not working properly, please email your request to ncstate-gssp@ncsu.edu. Please remember include your name, student ID number, effective date of requested action.

If you have questions regarding the Graduate School, the Graduate Student Support Plan, or other issues related to your graduate studies, it is important to first contact your adviser, Director of Graduate Programs, or Graduate Services Coordinator before contacting the Graduate School. Your home department faculty, staff, and administration have more specific knowledge of your individual situation.